Win32 Shell Lightweight Utility API (shlwapi.dll)

The Win32 shell lightweight utility API (shlwapi.dll) is a cornucopia of useful functions. It appears to be Microsoft’s “dumping ground” for functions without a better home. (I believe Microsoft internal DLL ownership also played a part.) Had I known about shlwapi years ago, it would have saved me considerable programming effort.

Steven Engelhardt is a Director of Engineering at Relativity, an Adjust Professor of Software Engineering at DePaul University, an avid board gamer, and a father of two. His interests include high-performance data processing systems, server-side and cloud systems architecture, and the Chicago Blackhawks.